This guy Jerry Bruckheimer, is a hockey fanatic. Every summer he puts on a Celebrity Hockey tournament in Vegas involving Movie Stars and Professional Hockey Players. Movie stars such as Cuba Gooden Jr, Keiffer Sutherland etc show up to play every year. The tournament is called the Bruckheimer's Bad Boy Tournament. Hockey enthusiasts come from around the world to play in this event. I know of this tournament, because my son played in it for 2 summers as a guest of Bruckheimer. If the NHL is looking to raise their identity in the US of A, Bruckheimer is the man to do it. This guy shakes, rattles and rolls.

Darren Dreger TSN

10/6/2006 8:19:58 PM

If we're willing to accept the notion that Canadian cell phone magnate Jim Balsillie stands a chance of relocating the Pittsburgh Penguins to Southern Ontario, then swallowing the concept of another expansion in the NHL should seem plausible.

Sources say both Kansas City and Las Vegas are considered strong National Hockey League cities in waiting. 

The league acknowledges gestures have been made, but won't confirm any formal or informal plans to expand.

Now I'm sure you've heard of Jerry Bruckheimer.  He's produced mega movies like Pirates of the Caribbean and Top Gun and he's also the mastermind behind the famed CSI series. 

Bruckheimer has been waiting patiently with his pockets full of cash, eager to gamble on the success of hockey in Las Vegas.

Bruckheimer put in a bid to buy the Anaheim Ducks a few years back, and most recently kicked the tires on the Penguins.  But this movie mogul isn't interested in propping up a troubled franchise - he wants an NHL team in Vegas, be it through re-location or expansion.

NHL sources suggest a fee north of $250 million could be what its going to take.

That being said, an enormous sum of cash may persuade even the most traditional owner to consider Sin City as a viable option.